Question of the Day: How Do You Carry in This Heat?

July 18, 2012

Holy hell is it hot. If I didn’t smoke cigars, I’d be common sense gun blogging in air-conditioned comfort. As it stands now, I’m lamenting the fact that I didn’t bring a machete with me to hack my way back to the house. Laboring in the inferno known as St. Louis, Dan put it even more succinctly: you can drown outside. Throughout the country, those of us who carry a firearm must find a way to do so without adding to existing heat and humidity misery. I carry my Caracal C in an outside the waistband (OWB) RKBA Kydex holster. It completely covers the grip, shielding the gun from sweat. It hugs my torso, concealing under a simple T-shirt. So I’m good until the fall, when I can finally switch back to OWB’ing a proper .45. Do you have a summer gun and a winter gun and
change your carry set-up accordingly?

38 COMMENTS

ready,fire,aim July 18, 2012 At 13:02

say what you will but fanny packs are the way to go
Wiregrass July 18, 2012 At 13:13

I’m loving my SW642 for pocket carry.
- Ralph July 18, 2012 At 15:44
  
  +1.
  
  Me, too. Cargo shorts, Blackhawk or Uncle Mike’s #3, Hornady Critical Defense HPs and we’re good to go.
Chas July 18, 2012 At 13:17

I carry the same way regardless of the season – M&P45c in a leather IWB holster.
Bryan July 18, 2012 At 13:21

M&P 9c in a Remora holster stuck inside basketball shorts. Remora is awesome, though I wouldn’t try to play basketball with my piece.
- Dirk Diggler July 18, 2012 At 14:05
  
  +1 on the remora. I have one for my Glock and my Sig 238
- Ralph July 18, 2012 At 15:45
  
  Love the Remora, but it does get as sweaty as an old mare.
  - Dirk Diggler July 19, 2012 At 11:44
    
    not if it is between your underwear and your pants. Unless you go commando, it should be a problem.
Aharon July 18, 2012 At 13:44

I don’t yet carry. If/when I do I’ll probably go with carrying a carry gun in some type of man-bag with easy fast access. Unless life becomes dangerous with increased violence in my area on a daily basis I’ll probably carry a Ruger LCR 357 Revolver loaded with 38+P summer and winter.
- Henry Bowman July 18, 2012 At 14:17
  
  It’s called a satchel. Indian Jones wears one.
  - Moonshine7102 July 18, 2012 At 14:19
    
    I always thought it was a purse, no matter who’s carrying it.
    - Swarf July 18, 2012 At 14:33
      
      Murse.
    - Moonshine7102 July 18, 2012 At 14:36
      
      Purse. I do not care if it’s a man carrying it. I’m also happy to point out that it’s a purse to any man I see carrying one.
    - brigo50 July 18, 2012 At 16:56
      
      Which tribe is Indian Jones from?
  - C. Walther July 18, 2012 At 17:16
    
    http://www.buy.com/prod/wenger-swissgear-single-gusset-notebook-bag-clamshell-poly-black/201700822.html
    
    If you can find one in stock, it’s damn near perfect. On the back panel (the part that rides next to your body), there’s a zipper pocket that could easily hold a compact pistol and a velcro panel that could hold a Desert Eagle and spare ammo. Mine’s lasted for over five years with HEAVY use and abuse, and will probably last for another five.
- Moonshine7102 July 18, 2012 At 14:42
  
  I’d forgotten that clip! Fvckin’ hilarious. And it’s still called a purse.
- wade July 18, 2012 At 15:27
  
  plus 100 internets to you henry!
Matt in FL July 18, 2012 At 13:50

I suck it up. The choice between my XD(M) .40 and my P238 is based more on which is concealable. I prefer to carry the .40, but sometimes, like the t-shirt I’m wearing now, it just doesn’t cover well.

But then, I’m in Florida, so having a winter gun and a summer gun makes little sense.
Erik in Texas July 18, 2012 At 14:00

I carry a 1911 in a Galco N3 holster (IWB) everyday. I wear a light cotton undershirt, and a button-up shortsleeve every day.
Dirk Diggler July 18, 2012 At 14:06

No difference between summer and winter carry – difference depends on clothing. T-shirt or polo, I go with a Remora IWB. Suit going to church, I wear a Raven Concealment OWB w the pancake wings (it is very concealable and comfortable). If I have on jeans and a cover jacket, I can wear either.
mark July 18, 2012 At 14:26

spring/summer sig 232 in a desantis insider iwb

fall/winter sig 229 40cal don hume iwb
- Skyler July 18, 2012 At 18:58
  
  I have a sig P232 with a Mitch Rosen Workman slimline holster that I use year round. But I dress the same all year round in central Texas.
  - Mark July 18, 2012 At 22:32
    
    I’m in PA so i have to deal with heat waves and blizzards haha
wade July 18, 2012 At 15:30

I currently run a full-size 1911 in a tooled El Paso strongside select. It holds my heater enough away from my sweaty self to stay reasonably dry (I still oil it every night), and if it pokes out from under a shirt, most people mistake it for a cell phone holder.
tdiinva July 18, 2012 At 15:43

Like Dirk I carry the same way throughout the year. The only thing that changes is what I use to cover it — Springfield Milspec OWB covered by my LL Bean shirt.
Kelly in GA July 18, 2012 At 16:21

I just wear jeans and sweat a little. It’s worth being able to leave my heater on. 😛
speedracer5050 July 18, 2012 At 17:16

ATI Fx Titan Compact 1911 .45acp, IWB leather holster, undershirt and 2xl sleeveless tshirt. Jeans or denim shorts for summer, long sleeve t for winter!!!!
Darkstar July 18, 2012 At 17:25

Glock 23 in a Milt Sparks summer special (IWB) every day. Carrying a gun is supposed to be comforting not necessarily comfortable.
Matt in FL July 18, 2012 At 17:40

Oh, in case you didn’t notice, RF managed to sneak in a bikini model under the radar. That’s Alessandra Ambrosio in the picture.
Russell Phagan July 18, 2012 At 18:38

I carry the same year round in Arizona. Glock 34 with X300 in Raven Concealment holster owb. I like wearing loose tall size or long tail t-shirts or polos to conceal. In the winter I do the same and wear an undershirt too.

The biggest problem with summer carry for me is sweating all over the gun, and that is why I had my carry guns nickel boron coated. I generally clean my carry gun every 3 days this time of year.
Taurus609 July 18, 2012 At 18:54

Full size M&P 9mm in a CB, STD year round, usually with cargo shorts and an untucked Polo type shirt. Even in St. louis when it’s over 100, as it is now.
racer88 July 18, 2012 At 19:52

In Florida it’s “summer carry” throughout the year. For me: G27 in Supertuck.
LC Judas July 18, 2012 At 22:17

Denim jacket. Whatever the IWB Desantis wants to support that day. From any of my polymer strikers fired pistols to my 1911. Just make sure the jacket doesn’t hang up when I stand up.
kt July 18, 2012 At 22:33

Alternate Bt kimber crimson carry in a crossbreed super tuck or sigp250 9mm in the same. Tend to do the sig in hotter weather bc that crossbreed is horsehide instead of cow and it supposedly does better in wetter environs
Big John July 19, 2012 At 08:24

Iowa here. Blackhawk iwb, or serpa, or uncle mike’s ankle rig. Heat has no bearing. Take your piece with you, one way or another.
Buuurr July 19, 2012 At 09:27

I carry the same, though just a little hotter. Why would it be any different than usual?
Jason October 14, 2012 At 10:20

Come down to Arkansas rice country and we can talk about hot. We can talk while we hunt skeeters, the state bird, bring a big rifle, probably magnum. Anyway! Our guns have to be hidden all the time, and since us farmers wear sweat covered t-shirts, a 642 in the pocket is the easiest thing. We also have a .223 in the tractor cab for “anything else” if you can catch my bearing, its a little light for for skeeters though.
Art Tilges May 28, 2013 At 22:15

Has anyone either heard of or tried the 3 speed holster? http://3speedholster.com/
It sounds almost to good to be true. They have a 30 day 100% money back guarantee. Each holster is custom fit to your gun. You can even use this with lights and lasers attached. I’m thinking about trying this out as soon as I get my CCW. If anyone has any info on this holster or has used one please leave a comment.